Agenda item
Kingsbury Town FC, Townsend Lane, London, NW9 7NE (case no. 14/4365)
Decision:
RECOMMENDATION: Grant planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in the Draft Decision Notice.
DECISION: Planning permission granted subject to the conditions set out in the Draft Decision Notice, and to the following additional conditions:
1. Update Condition 6 (Travel Management Plan) to secure the following:
-Traffic and parking management threshold reduced to attendance exceeding 300;
-Review of Travel Plan at 6 month intervals for the first 2 years and thereafter the 3rd and 5th years;
-Provision that timeframe for further review can be revised if deemed appropriate.
2. New condition restricting hours of use of the club as follows:
-12 midnight Monday – Saturday
-2am Friday – Saturday (restricted to 4 events per year)
-10pm Sunday
3. New condition restricting club for hire after 6pm to people who have an association with one of the football clubs only.
4. New condition requiring a ‘Local Residents Consultation Forum’ to be set up, with details provided on constitution and terms of reference, to meet quarterly.
5. New condition requiring a management plan detailing:
-Arrangements for litter collection in the vicinity of the site after events held at the club;
-Details of on-site signage to advise patrons of importance of not littering and leaving premises quietly;
-Information provided to those hiring the club on these matters.
6. New condition requiring cowls to be installed to existing floodlighting to reduce light pollution before commencement of 2015/2016 football season.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL: Alterations and refurbishments of the existing sports ground and clubhouse to include the demolition of the front porch and erection of a single storey toilet extension, new turnstiles, gates and ticket booths, resurfacing of pathway, replacement pitch barriers, retractable covered walkway, players boxes and new covered seating and standing spectator areas around the ground.
RECOMMENDATION: Grant planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in the Draft Decision Notice.
Rachel Murrell (Area Planning Manager) outlined the proposals and referenced the submission of the supplementary information tabled at the meeting.
Marilyn Davies (objector) spoke as a member of the Silver Jubilee Residents Association and submitted that the proposal would result in excessive crowds, more late night activities, more people leaving the premises late at night causing disturbance and light pollution from the flood lights. She also stated that the report did not make reference to the 1991 planning application.
David Privett (objector) stated that the problem of car parking in the area was not accurately reflected in the report. He referred to an increase in poor behaviour by people leaving the premises and promises made by the club to improve the situation not being kept. He also made reference to a recent incident involving Hendon FC players and supporters.
Members of the committee asked questions concerning the experience of local people with football matches that took place during the past season with reference to the number of people attending and the number of cars parking in the area. Marilyn Davies explained that she had reported a case of noise nuisance from the premises to the Council in 2011 but at the time she had not been able to pursue this.
Councillor Davidson stated that he had been contacted by the Silver Jubilee Park Residents Association and was speaking on their behalf. He explained that residents were very concerned that they would be subject to increased noise levels, high levels of traffic into the area, excessive litter, light pollution from the flood lights, the size of the proposed new stand and the impact the development would have on Silver Jubilee park. He questioned the traffic data referred to in the report and criticised the level of resident engagement there had been. He also questioned why it was proposed to provide the ground to Hendon FC when they had no local support and had been associated with recent bad publicity.
Councillor Mashari, (ward councillor) explained that she had spoken to both local residents and the applicant in an effort to reach agreement over the proposals. She questioned the omission of an earlier planning application for Silver Jubilee Park changing rooms when parking for these had been identified on the site in question. She was concerned at the traffic implications and how these might be mitigated. She felt that the level of objection to the proposals needed to be taken very seriously and suggested the item should be deferred to allow further discussions between the applicant and residents.
Robert Morris (applicant) submitted that the proposals represented a great opportunity to regenerate the area and turn the club into a community hub providing sporting facilities for schools, improved facilities for football spectators and other community activities. He stated that Hendon FC had a very small fan base and Edgware even smaller. In answer to questioning from members of the committee, Mr Morris stated that he had tried on a number of occasions to meet with local residents and at a recent public meeting some agreements were reached only for further objections to be raised. He referred to the high level of support from local people for the proposals.
Members of the committee questioned the impact of cars on the area and the plans for managing this. The issue of the flood lights and the overall height of the proposed spectator stand were raised.
DECISION: Planning permission granted subject to the conditions set out in the Draft Decision Notice, and to the following additional conditions:
1. Update Condition 6 (Travel Management Plan) to secure the following:
- Traffic and parking management threshold reduced to attendance exceeding 300;
- Review of Travel Plan at 6 month intervals for the first 2 years and thereafter the 3rd and 5th years;
- Provision that timeframe for further review can be revised if deemed appropriate.
2. New condition restricting hours of use of the club as follows:
- 12 midnight Monday – Saturday
- 2am Friday – Saturday (restricted to 4 events per year)
- 10pm Sunday
3. New condition restricting club for hire after 6pm to people who have an association with one of the football clubs only.
4. New condition requiring a ‘Local Residents Consultation Forum’ to be set up, with details provided on constitution and terms of reference, to meet quarterly.
5. New condition requiring a management plan detailing:
- Arrangements for litter collection in the vicinity of the site after events held at the club;
- Details of on-site signage to advise patrons of importance of not littering and leaving premises quietly;
- Information provided to those hiring the club on these matters.
6. New condition requiring cowls to be installed to existing floodlighting to reduce light pollution before commencement of 2015/2016 football season.
Supporting documents: